Stronger America Through Seafood Submits Comments Urging NOAA to Prioritize Regions for Future Aquaculture Opportunity Areas

As NOAA Fisheries seeks public input on where to look for new Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs), industry coalition Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) is urging the agency to prioritize its federal AOA process on identifying areas in federal waters with the highest likelihood of supporting a successful commercial industry, in addition to current factors used for consideration.

In comments submitted this week, SATS reiterates its support for NOAA’s science-based AOA process nationwide and recommends New England, the U.S. Caribbean, and Florida’s Atlantic coast as top priorities for focal regions for future AOA Atlases. These recommendations are based on the potential for a commercially viable industry to develop over the near- and mid-term future, while considering oceanographic conditions, existing infrastructure, and commercial interest.

This is what Tyler Sclodnick, SATS’ president, wrote:

Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS), a coalition representing companies across the seafood supply chain, supports increased U.S. production of healthful, sustainable, and affordable seafood. In particular, SATS supports the expansion of American aquaculture and applauds NOAA’s Office of Aquaculture’s work to date to advance Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in U.S. waters.

Establishing AOAs in federal waters is an important step in reducing regulatory barriers and creating opportunities for a robust American open-ocean aquaculture industry. As NOAA’s Office of Aquaculture continues its work to identify AOAs based on current factors related to the environment and ocean, we urge the agency to prioritize its federal AOA process on identifying areas in federal waters with the highest likelihood of supporting a successful commercial industry.

Proximity to a working harbor with sufficient infrastructure, such as existing hatcheries, processing plants, and distribution capacity, should be a critical consideration. Engagement with existing industry stakeholders to define suitability criteria, or update the criteria used in prior analysis, should be a priority in the AOA process.

Aquaculture remains an untapped industry in the U.S. We rank only 20th in global aquaculture production, and the U.S. continues to lose ground. Today, the U.S. imports up to 85% of the seafood we consume—half of which is estimated to come from aquaculture producers in other countries.

Much of this imported seafood originates from overseas, particularly from countries in Asia. Expanding open-ocean fish farming into U.S. waters would help increase our supply of American-raised seafood as a sustainable complement to America’s wild capture fisheries.

By supporting opportunities for fishermen and fish farmers to work together to strengthen our domestic seafood supply, the U.S. can grow its seafood industry while supporting vibrant fishing communities and ensuring a more resilient and competitive American seafood industry.

Open-ocean aquaculture would generate an additional $877 million toward the U.S. economy, create thousands of jobs across the seafood supply chain, revitalize portside infrastructure, and establish new markets for U.S. farmers who supply sustainable fish feed ingredients.

Regulatory barriers in the U.S. have hindered the expansion of aquaculture in U.S. federal waters. Duplicative and costly environmental reviews by multiple federal agencies, along with a lack of a clear or timely permitting process, have made it nearly impossible for farmers to secure the necessary permits to farm in U.S. federal waters.

Many have attempted to navigate the regulatory process, but not a single commercial-scale farm has made it through to operation. As a result, securing outside capital to develop the necessary environmental information to comply with permitting requirements is extremely difficult.

NOAA’s efforts to develop these AOAs are a crucial step in reducing regulatory hurdles to establishing open-ocean aquaculture in the U.S. AOAs help reduce the time and expense associated with regulatory compliance by completing the initial analyses for large areas found suitable for open-ocean aquaculture.

Farmers seeking permits may then develop the site-specific environmental information needed to pursue a project within an AOA, if they choose to do so. SATS supports expanding the science-based AOA process nationwide to reduce regulatory barriers for open-ocean aquaculture in the U.S.

To best support growth of a robust American aquaculture industry, any future AOAs should be focused on federal waters in areas that are viable for commercial-scale aquaculture and where there is strong demand.

SATS supports the following regions as the top priorities for focal regions for future AOA Atlases: New England, the U.S. Caribbean, and the Atlantic coast of Florida. These recommendations are based on the potential for a commercially viable industry to develop over the near- and mid-term future, while considering oceanographic conditions, existing infrastructure, and commercial interest.

Prioritizing regions based on these factors will help ensure that the AOA process is focused on areas where it can have the greatest impact in supporting the development of a successful U.S. aquaculture industry.

Expanding aquaculture in federal waters would strengthen our economy, reduce our nation’s sizable trade deficit, ensure a more secure seafood supply chain, and help increase access to affordable, American-grown seafood.

SATS stands ready to assist you in working toward a vibrant and expanded U.S. aquaculture industry and a stronger, more resilient seafood sector where sustainable aquaculture complements well-managed wild fisheries, and fishermen and fish farmers work together to increase our domestic seafood supply.